Mmebusɛm 14
1 Ɔbea nyansafo si ne dan, nanso ɔbea kwasea de nʼankasa ne nsa dwiriw ne de gu fam.
A wise woman builds up her household. But a foolish one will pull down with her own hands what has been built up.
2 Nea ne nantew teɛ no suro Awurade, na nea nʼakwan kyea no bu no animtiaa.
One who walks on a virtuous journey, and who fears God, is despised by him who advances along a disreputable way.
3 Ɔkwasea kasa ma wɔbɔ nʼakyi abaa, nanso anyansafo ano bɔ wɔn ho ban.
In the mouth of the foolish, there is a rod of arrogance. But the lips of the wise guard them.
4 Faako a anantwi nni no, adididaka no mu da mpan, na nantwi ahoɔden mu na nnɔbae pii fi ba.
Where there are no oxen, the feeding trough is empty. But where there are many crops, there the strength of the ox is manifest.
5 Ɔdanseni nokwafo rennaadaa, ɔdansekurumni hwie atoro gu hɔ.
A faithful witness will not lie. But a deceitful witness offers a lie.
6 Ɔfɛwdifo hwehwɛ nyansa nanso onya, nanso wɔn a wɔwɔ nhumu nya nimdeɛ ntɛm.
A mocker seeks wisdom and does not find it. The doctrine of the prudent is accessible.
7 Twe wo ho fi ɔkwasea ho, efisɛ, worennya nimdeɛ mfi nʼano.
Go against a foolish man, and he does not acknowledge lips of prudence.
8 Anitewfo nyansa ne sɛ wɔbɛdwene wɔn akwan ho, na nkwaseafo agyimisɛm yɛ nnaadaa.
The wisdom of a discerning man is to understand his way. And the imprudence of the foolish is to be wandering astray.
9 Nkwaseafo de bɔne ho adwensakra di fɛw, na wɔn a wɔteɛ mu na anisɔ wɔ.
The foolish will speak mockingly of sin. But grace lingers among the just.
10 Koma biara nim ɔyaw wɔ ne mu, na obi foforo rentumi ne no nkyɛ nʼanigye.
The heart that knows the bitterness of its own soul, in its gladness the outsider shall not meddle.
11 Wɔbɛsɛe amumɔyɛfo fi, nanso teefo ntamadan bɛyɛ frɔmfrɔm.
The house of the impious will be wiped away. Yet truly, the tabernacles of the just shall spring forth.
12 Ɔkwan bi wɔ hɔ a ɛteɛ wɔ onipa ani so, nanso awiei no, ɛkɔ owu mu.
There is a way which seems just to a man, but its conclusion leads to death.
13 Ɔserew mu mpo, koma tumi di yaw, na anigye tumi wie awerɛhow.
Laughter shall be mingled with sorrow, and mourning occupies the limits of joy.
14 Akyirisanfo benya akatua sɛnea wɔn akwan te, na onipa pa nso benya ne de.
The foolish will be filled up by his own ways. And the good man shall be above him.
15 Atetekwaa gye biribiara di, nanso onitefo dwene nʼanammɔntu ho.
The innocent trust every word. The astute one considers his own steps. Nothing good will be for the deceitful son. But the wise servant shall act prosperously and his way will be set in order.
16 Onyansafo suro Awurade na oguan bɔne, nanso ɔkwasea yɛ asowui ne basabasa.
The wise fear, and so turn away from evil. The foolish leap ahead with confidence.
17 Onipa a ne bo nkyɛ fuw no yɛ nkwaseade, na wɔtɔn nea ɔpam apam bɔne no.
The impatient will work foolishness. And a resourceful man is hated.
18 Ntetekwaafo agyapade ne gyimi, na wɔde nimdeɛ bɔ anitewfo abotiri.
The childish will possess foolishness, and the discerning will anticipate knowledge.
19 Nnipa bɔnefo bɛkotow nnipa pa anim, na amumɔyɛfo akotow atreneefo apon ano.
The evil will fall down before the good. And the impious will fall down before the gates of the just.
20 Ahiafo de, wɔn yɔnkonom mpo mpɛ wɔn anim ahwɛ, nanso adefo wɔ nnamfonom bebree.
The pauper will be hated, even by his own neighbor. Yet truly, the friends of the wealthy are many.
21 Nea obu ne yɔnko animtiaa yɛ bɔne, na nhyira nka nea ne yam ye ma ohiani.
Whoever despises his neighbor, sins. But whoever pities the poor shall be blessed. Whoever trusts in the Lord loves mercy.
22 So wɔn a wɔbɔ pɔw bɔne nyera kwan ana? Nanso wɔn a wɔhyehyɛ nea eye no nya adɔe ne nokware.
They wander astray who work evil. But mercy and truth prepare good things.
23 Adwumadenyɛ nyinaa de mfaso ba, na kasahunu de, ɛkɔ ohia mu.
In every work, there shall be abundance. But where there are many words, there is often need.
24 Anyansafo ahonya ne wɔn abotiri, na nkwaseafo agyimisɛm sow gyimi aba.
The crown of the wise is their wealth. The senselessness of the foolish is imprudence.
25 Ɔdanseni nokwafo gye nkwa, nanso ɔdansekurumni yɛ ɔdaadaafo.
A faithful witness frees souls. And the chameleon utters lies.
26 Nea osuro Awurade no wɔ bammɔ a mu yɛ den, na ɛbɛyɛ guankɔbea ama ne mma.
In the fear of the Lord is the faithfulness of strength, and there shall be hope for his sons.
27 Awurade suro yɛ nkwa asuti, eyi onipa fi owu afiri mu.
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, so as to turn aside from the ruin of death.
28 Ɔman mu nnipa dodow yɛ ɔhene anuonyam, nanso sɛ asomfo nni hɔ a mmapɔmma no sɛe.
In a multitude of people, there is dignity for the king. And in a paucity of people, there is disgrace for the prince.
29 Onipa a ɔwɔ abodwokyɛre wɔ ntease a mu dɔ, na nea ne bo fu ntɛm no da agyimisɛm adi.
Whoever is patient is governed by much prudence. But whoever is impatient exalts his foolishness.
30 Koma mu asomdwoe ma nipadua nkwa, na anibere ma nnompe porɔw.
The well-being of the heart is life for the flesh. But envy is decay for the bones.
31 Nea ɔhyɛ ahiafo so no bu wɔn Yɛfo animtiaa, nanso nea ohu ohiani mmɔbɔ no hyɛ Onyankopɔn anuonyam.
Whoever slanders the indigent argues against his Maker. But he who has compassion on the poor honors his Maker.
32 Sɛ amanehunu ba a amumɔyɛfo hwe ase, nanso owu mu mpo atreneefo wɔ guankɔbea.
The impious will be expelled in his malice. But the just finds hope even in his own death.
33 Nyansa te ntease koma mu, na nkwaseafo mu mpo, oyi ne ho adi.
In the heart of the prudent, wisdom finds rest. And so shall he instruct all the uneducated.
34 Trenee pagyaw ɔman, na bɔne yɛ animguase ma nnipa nyinaa.
Justice elevates a nation. But sin makes the peoples miserable.
35 Ɔhene ani sɔ ɔsomfo nyansani, na ɔsomfo nimguasefo hyɛ no abufuw.
An intelligent minister is acceptable to the king. Whoever is useless shall bear his wrath.
